SA Triple Crown hero Abashiri, who was injured during the running of the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July on Saturday, is to be retired.
Abashiri – at his peak
Mike and Adam Azzie have done a sterling job with the son of Go Deputy, who was raced in his early career by the late Adriaan van Vuuren and earned over R4,3 million in 20 starts.
A R400 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, the peak of the goodlooking Lammerskraak bred gelding’s career came with his SA Triple Crown triumph in the Gr1 SA Derby of 2016.
While his career hit a slump after those dizzy heights due to injury, and he never quite raced at the same performance levels again, he was always a newsmaker and favourite of the racing public. And a very special horse who carried plenty of sentiment and emotion on his majestic back for the Azzie family.
Abashiri is recovering at the Summerveld Equine Hospital after going wrong in the final stages of the July on Saturday.
He will be returned to Gauteng this week and then commence his injury rehabilitation before being retired and taking his place as the Azzie Racing Stable darling.
